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Social Works

Zakil-Ha™

Zakil-Ha is a project focused on providing the basic human right of water security to indigenous communities around lake Atitlan and beyond. The project centers around acquiring and installing the necessary materials to harvest rainwater during each rainfall and the education required to learn how to utilize this resource in the best possible manner.

The goal of Zakil-Ha is to provide a sustainable solution to the issue of water scarcity faced by indigenous communities. By harvesting rainwater, the project aims to reduce dependence on unreliable water sources and improve access to clean drinking water. In addition to the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, Zakil-Ha also provides educational and training programs for community members to teach them how to maintain the systems and make the most out of the collected water. The project is committed to working closely with local communities and respecting their cultural traditions and practices. Through its efforts, Zakil-Ha hopes to empower indigenous communities and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

Rainwater harvesting has been implemented by the Mayan people since pre-colonial times. Mayan villages built what is known as a “Chultun” underground. It was engineered as a storage compartment underground that could store rainwater that was funneled by small trenches that were dug in the area surrounding the hole.

Our Mission

Provide a rainwater harvesting service that is egalitarian and sustainable for all walks of life.

Our Vision

Eliminate the scarcity of this vital liquid by collecting rainwater from as many roofs as possible.

How it works

The system consists of 6 parts:

Pitched Roof
Roof Gutters
Piping
First Flush Diverter
Storage Tank
Ecofilter

Step 1

A slanted roof is required so that the runoff water easily enters the rest of the system. Flat roofs can also be used for rainwater harvesting, but in the impoverished communities we are focusing on, slanted roofs are the most prevalent.

Step 2

Roof gutters capture the runoff water from the roof and divert it to the first flush.

Step 3

PVC piping is required throughout the whole system to funnel the water through the proper sequence.

Step 4

The first flush diverter is a long separate PVC pipe that interrupts the initial flow of water into the storage tank, capturing the initial rainwater that would have gone into the tank. The reason behind this diversion is that the roof of a household gets dirt and grime over time during a dry period. Once the rain begins to fall, that dirt and grime will be washed straight into the water storage container, contaminating it and all the clean water that will start flooding in after the first couple of minutes. The first flush diverter prevents that by capturing this dirty grimy water before it heads to the storage tank and then seals off by an inner flotation device. The rest of the rainfall will go past the sealed first flush and into the storage container, providing 70-85% cleaner water in the storage tank.

Step 5

The storage tank holds all the water that can be harnessed from the roof during rainy weather.

Step 6

In Guatemala, there is a company called “EcoFiltro” (Ecofilter) that has made a very successful natural water filter that is accessible to all and lasts an entire 2 years before needing to be replaced (with proper maintenance in the form of a deep clean every 6 months with water). This filter will allow households to utilize the rainwater they have harnessed for their own consumption

Currently, people in low to middle income areas of the entire country lack safe, accessible, and constant access to water. The choices that do exist are costly, or difficult to acquire because of gross mismanagement.

Our goal is to provide the communities of lake Atitlan, and over time the entire country, with an additional source of water that they can store or utilize throughout the year in whatever way they require. We believe that every human being should have unequivocal access to water and absolute independence on how they wish to use it.